How We Traveled In Hong Kong- HK Guide Part V
This is the last part of my Hong Kong travel 2010 series. For part IV, click here.
What can I say? I love traveling in HK. There’s nothing complicated about it since it’s so much alike Singapore.
By Train
It’s called MTR in HK & I’m not sure if it’s just me but HK’s MTR seemed to be faster than Singapore’s MRT. Or maybe this is a biased claim cause Baby J & I both missed our stop by a few in HK thinking it might be a long ride but were proven wrong!
Almost all the places were easily accessible by train. We bought an Octopus card each which cost only SGD$30 & finished the value in 6 days. Just tap wherever you go & oh yes, stand on the right on travelators/escalators.
Deposit $50 (which you’ll be refunded) + Stored Value $100 (for use)= Price HK$150
Unlike Singaporeans who are blind to the marked zones at door entrances, they queue up by the sides & stride gracefully in when it’s their turns. I like their black tinted glass doors. Anyway, the tracks can barely be seen, I assume this is a sure way to prevent suicide attempts:
Instead of our yellow lines, HK develops the arrow method to remind commuters to wait for their turns. But either way, I find it shameful that both governments must be babysitters to its citizens. It’s almost like back in kindergarten where even colouring was based on instructions.
By Foot
When words don’t make sense, draw! As usual, the friendly people of HK helped us. This time round, a lovely shop assistant drew out a map for three lost Singaporeans. Reminiscing, I highly doubt any Singapore soul would do that for a lost tourist, right?
Being our only work out in HK, we walked a hell lot. But it wasn’t an issue since everywhere we were, there was shopping and food and money changers, all aspects promoting HK’s economy.
By Bus
Have I mentioned before I love HK buses too? Almost as comfortable as coaches, we took the A21 bus from A-inn Hostel in the heart of Mong Kok to the airport. Cost us only HKD$33 each & only 25 minutes! This was the only bus we took & A21 has a luggage deposit area at the first level of the bus where we could place our luggage. Sorry didn’t snap a picture as I was the last passenger to alight & busy dragging my luggage down but you should have seen it. The entire interior was totally new, huge, super clean & smelt fresh!
Of course, there are other types of buses too. The magic school bus sort that didn’t have air-conditioning. I think it’s wiser for a tourist to take the train where everything is clear cut. Or if you can splurge a little more, the cab:
By Cab
We were prepared to be shocked by atrociously high amount of fare like what our friends have warned us (not to take cabs), but the total amount from the airport to our hostel cost us only SGD$40 (HKD$200). Of course, I wouldn’t be saying that this is a small amount if I were traveling alone. Split among three of us, it was decent!
The only other time we took a cab was from Mong Kok to Temple Street (which if you know, is pretty near like Bishan to Ang Mo Kio) in the night. I can’t remember the exact fare, but it was cheap! Perhaps about SG$7? So anyway, I highly recommend taking cabs if you’re tired & are traveling in a group.
If you’re looking at saving on transport & cool with the hostel I stayed at, you can take the A21 bus to & from the airport (more information above).
Next travel posts: Bangkok! Stay tuned to this space!
